Horizons Regional Council (HRC) has recently consulted the Wanganui community on a proposal to construct flood protection structures to protect Wanganui City from Whanganui River flooding.

HRC has recommended that the Lower Whanganui Scheme should:

• protect Wanganui against a 1 in 200 year flood (0.5% chance of occurring in any one year);
• protect the four flood risk areas of Balgownie, Kowhai Park, Putiki and Wanganui Central City from Moutoa Gardens to the Cobham Bridge; and
• the works should comprise a combination of earth stopbanks, flood walls and stop logs.

If adopted, Wanganui ratepayers will:

• contribute 80% of the cost;
• be charged additional rates of $72.74 per floodable property; $46.70 per non flooding property and $8.81 per rural property.

The Wanganui District Council's submission:

• supports the investigation into flood protection options;
• questions the adequacy of the consultation undertaken;
• requests the consultation period be extended;
• requests diagrammatic representation of the proposed flood protection structures;
• strongly questions the community's ability to pay for the proposed scheme;
• questions the decision to protect for a 200 year flood;
• requests that the scheme be paid for over a longer period;
• requests that the scheme be split into stages, to be completed and rated in stages;
• supports the Balgownie proposal as the most urgent stage of the scheme;
• reserves judgment on all other stages until more consultation is completed.

Council will present its submission to Horizons at a hearing to be held at the Wanganui Racecourse at 12.00 noon on Wednesday, 21 May 2008.

The Wanganui District Council has resolved to withdraw its membership of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

LGNZ is tasked with representing local government concerns at a national and parliamentary level. But the Council's Finance and Infrastructure Committee has unanimously resolved that those representations have proven ineffective and expensive. Council believes it can more effectively lobby at a central government level. The cost of LGNZ membership is approximately $39,000 per annum.

Council officers have estimated that the annual cost of central government impositions is $1.5M for the Wanganui ratepayer. These costs have arisen from requirements to meet higher national standards and additional legislative requirements such as dog microchipping, building accreditation, lengthy auditing procedures and fees, water and sanitary assessments and greater consultation requirements.

The councils are also having to provide extra facilities and resources where the national governments have either withdrawn services, like school swimming pools, or where territorial authorities are now supporting government agencies such as community patrols and closed circuit television security systems to assist the police.

Council believes it can more effectively lobby at a central government level – and allocate $39,000 locally for council and community services.

Vacancies

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Office Assistant
Applications close May 21

Glass Development Project Manager
Applications close May 22

Animal Control Officer - Team Leader
Applications close May 25

Customer Services Manager
Applications close May 25

Summary of Information

In accordance with Section 83(1)(a)(i) of the Local Government Act 2002 and the Gambling Act 2003, the Wanganui District Council gives notice of its intention to review the Gambling Venue Policy 2004. Submissions are now invited on the review.

Process
The review of the Wanganui District Council's Gambling Venue Policy 2004 will be publicly advertised and submissions invited from 17 April 2008 to 23 May 2008. The Wanganui District Council will hear submissions and determine the policy in June 2008.

Information
Further information relating to the Gambling Venue Policy 2004 is available from Customer Services, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui or may be obtained from Customer Services, Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001, fax (06) 349 0000 or email us.

Further information includes:

• Gambling Venue Policy 2004 – policy being reviewed
• Statement of Proposal – Gambling Venue Policy

Submission process
Submissions should be in writing and addressed to:

Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui
Attention: Stuart Hylton

To assist the submission and hearing process please endeavour when making a submission to –

• Refer to a specific point or rule within the Gambling Venue Policy 2004 (use heading references).
• State whether you support or oppose the specific point or rule.
• State clear reasoning for your decision.
• State what change, if any, you would like the Council to make.
• State whether you personally want to be heard in respect of your submission.
• Ensure your full contact details are supplied.

Submissions close on Friday, 23 May 2008.

The by-election for a new Wanganui District Councillor will be held in June.

A by-election is required following the resignation of Cr Marty Lindsay who is taking up a career opportunity in Australia.

Wanganui District Council Electoral Officer Noeline Moosman has set the by-election date for Saturday, June 21.

Nominations for candidates closed on Friday, May 2.

Voting will be by postal voting. The voting period will be from Friday, 30 May 2008, to 12 noon Saturday, 21 June 2008.

More information is available on this page.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Wanganui District Councils' Forestry Joint Committee – Monday, May 19 (2.30pm, Committee Room 2)

Council Meeting – Monday, May 19 (3.00pm)
- The Council will consider reports from all Committee meetings held in April and May.

Council Meeting – Thursday, May 22 (9.00am-4.00pm)
- Hearings of Submissions to draft Annual Plan 2008/09

Youth Committee – Monday, May 26 (4.00pm)

Council Meeting – Thursday, May 29 (3.00pm-7.00pm)
- Deliberation on Submissions to draft Annual Plan 2008/09

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, June 4 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 3.00pm in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.